GRILL SPOT TIP: If you are on a limited budget, look for a gas grill with fewer features rather than more. As a general rule, grills in the low-to-mid price range that have lots of bells and whistles will contain key parts such as burners, cooking grates, heat plates, and even structural parts (such as shelves, doors and panels) that are made of lower quality materials.
2. What and how you grill
High heat grilling will put more wear and tear on grill components than lower heat cooking. Similarly, what you cook can also affect the longevity of your grill parts. High acid marinades tend to corrode, for example. Cooking fatty meats can also lead to grease buildup on heat plates and in the grease tray. This can lead to flare-ups and grease fires, which in turn puts more wear-and-tear on these parts. The best way to prevent deterioration is to clean your grill regularly—keep reading for detailed instructions.
How To Make a Grill Last Longer
While your grill and its parts will wear out eventually, the simplest way to ensure your grill lasts a long time is by taking good care of it. That means cleaning it regularly, maintaining it throughout the seasons, and protecting it from the elements with a good grill cover. Replacing grill parts instead of purchasing a brand new grill when things stop working can also significantly extend the lifespan of your grill.
Here’s how to keep your grill clean:
The quick, everytime clean
You should always brush and scrape your cooking grates after every cookout to help maintain your grill between uses. When your grill is cold, brush the interior of the lid and the cooking grates using a grill cleaning brush to remove any leftover debris from your last cookout. For stubborn bits that will not be brushed off, try a wood scraper.
The seasonal clean
You should also give your grill a more thorough cleaning with every change of the seasons.
Spring BBQ maintenance
After sitting on the sidelines in the off-season, it’s time to get your grill game-ready. If you did a deep clean before putting your grill away for the winter, getting your grill back up and running should only take a few minutes. Be sure to:
- Test for gas leaks
- Check your burners for blockages
- Put the battery back in if your grill has an electric ignition system,
- Inspect your grill for any damage
- If it needs to be cleaned—again or because you weren’t able to before storing it for winter—follow the winter cleaning guidelines below.
Take a more in-depth look at our guide to spring BBQ maintenance.
Fall BBQ maintenance
Chances are your grill has been used regularly by the time fall arrives, and while you may not be ready to pack it away for winter, it still deserves a good cleaning after all the work it has put in over the summer. Learn how in our fall grill care guide.
If you don’t plan to grill through the winter, you can skip autumn maintenance as long as you give your barbecue a deep clean before storing it.
Winter BBQ maintenance
If you’re preparing your grill for winter storage, you’ll want to do an even more thorough cleaning, as well as a careful inspection to prepare it for storage. Follow these steps:
- Disconnect your propane tank or natural gas line
- Clean your grill from top to bottom, including the cooking grates and charcoal grates, heat plates, burners, grease tray, drip pan or ash catcher, and the grill exterior
- Inspect it for damage
- Prepare it for storage: Season the grates with a light layer of cooking oil, polish your grill’s exterior for additional protection, remove the burners and wrap them in plastic to keep spiders and insects from nesting in the gas tubes, and if your grill has an electric ignition system, remove the battery
- Cover it with a weather-resistant grill cover
For a more in-depth look at getting winter-ready, check out our guide to winterizing your grill.
The deep clean
Your grill should be deep cleaned at the end of every grilling season or, if you grill year round, twice a year every six months or so. If you still have them, follow your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. If they are no longer in your possession, follow our directions for deep cleaning your grill.
When to Replace Grill Parts
Over the lifespan of your barbecue, parts can deteriorate and impact the performance of your grill. The good news is that a broken part doesn’t mean it’s time to replace your barbecue—most grill parts are easy to replace in a few simple steps.
The easiest way to tell if you need to replace any part in your grill is if you notice that your grill is providing inconsistent heat, uneven flames, flare-ups, or otherwise performing poorly or in unexpected ways. If you notice any of these signs, inspect your grill for parts that are rusting, flaking, or showing any other signs of deterioration. Once you have determined which part it is causing the problem, you can easily remove and replace it with a bit of guidance. Many of the parts in your grill are easy to replace on your own and doing so can significantly extend the life of your grill.
